Two NPP Aspirants Panic Over Special Congress

Credible information reaching Today indicates that two of the seven New Patriotic Party (NPP) flag-bearer aspirants are sitting on tenterhooks ahead of the party�s Special Congress slated for December 6, 2014. The two, Today gathered, are Member of Parliament (MP) for Asuogyaman in the Eastern region, Kofi Osei-Ameyaw, and former MP for Mfantseman West, Stephen Asamoah Boateng, popularly known as Asabee. According to sources, the two are now living in great fear since they know they will be voted out at the Special Congress. The essence of the December 6, 2014 Special Congress is to reduce the number of flag-bearer aspirants from 7 to 5. Their (Osei-Ameyaw and Asabee�s) assumption, according to sources close to them, stems from the fact that some kingpins of the party believe that they are only in the race to do the bidding of one of the leading contestants, hence their decision to ensure that they do not make it to the five. �We can�t sit down and allow these two men to destroy the chances of our favourite candidate. Therefore, from now till the day we will have the Special Congress, we will do everything to ensure they are voted out,� some kingpins in the NPP (names withheld for now) were reported to have vowed. Apart from their intention to scuttle the chances of our [some kingpins in NPP] favourite aspirant, the source added, the two gentlemen do not have the political clout to win any internal party election let alone a national election. The situation, a deep throat at the camp of Asamoah Boateng says, is giving the flag-bearer hopeful, sleepless nights adding � he [Asamoah Boateng] intends to hold a press conference to announce his resignation from the contest before the party�s Special Congress.� �I never knew some of the people I trusted can be so wicked to the extent that they want me out of the race when indeed they are aware that I have paid such huge amount for the filing fees,� Asamoah Boateng is reported to have told his confidante. For Kofi Osei-Ameyaw, Today uncovered that though he is perturbed by the development of events, he has vowed to resist any clandestine move by any member of his party to have him voted out unjustly. �We are all shareholders of the NPP. Therefore no individual, not even former President Kufuor, can claim ownership of the party,� Osei-Ameyaw, according to the source, said. The source added that he could not fathom why some people in the party would think that he is only adding up to the numbers to block the chances of a potential flag-bearer. �I�m a potential flag-bearer myself and capable of leading the NPP to victory in 2016,� Osei- Ameyaw was purported to have claimed. A total of seven candidates filed to contest the presidential primaries of the NPP as of closing of nominations Monday, July 7, 2014.